Christmas Booboo: need new soundcard?

[Baptizer]

hello brothers and sisters....
hope you all are having a good christmas. I have a quick question. I just got my mom these awsome new computer speakers, but i think i went a bit overboard. Why? well, her soundcard doesnt support the speakers i just got i guess. Here is my scenario. The speakers are those surround sound type. THere should be an input from her sound card that connects to the speakers for REAR, FRONT, and CENTER/SUBWoofer. Problem is, her soundcard only has Output(just one).
I am more than willing to buy her a new soundcard so she can listen to all the speakers at once(right now, we have the output for the computer connected just to the FRONT speaker connection). Can anyone recommend a good soundcard that has the FRONT,REAR, CENTER connectors? I think my soundblaster live value doesnt even have them.....thanks guys...
be safe during this christmas holiday

[Baptizer]

hello...
one more thing, just read in the manual that it says a 4-channel soundcard will work also. Any recommendations? I am not sure she needs a 5.1 soundcard.....she is not a gamer...she just listens to music. Basically i would just like to get them all 3 to play at the same time....thanks!

[Baptizer]

hello....another quick question. Took a gander at pricewatch and noticed that there is a Sound Blaster Live! Value 5.1 digital OEM. Would this do the trick?

[Baptizer]

Hey..one more question(by the way, i love replying to myself as you can see!! heheh). Her soundcard is currently integrated to her mobo. I can just disable that and install a new one, correct?

[Surgeon General]

Hey Baps, Merry Christmas. As I read your thread I started to smile, The way it reads you are talking to your self on the net :)
Anyway, did you get it all sorted out? You can just disable the onboard sound. If you can't disable the device in the manager just remove the drivers.
Not sure if you already went out and got the card bt i was thinking, will not one of the little "Y" adapters work? I think I have even seen them in 3 config (would that then make it a "w"):D Not sure, but I have seen them at radio shack.
Happy holidays man, se you in some cs :D

[crono]

Hey Baptizer if she has a windows 98 os I have a Turtle Beach Quadzilla II it was my old soundcard and I loved the applications that it came with but xp would not support the rear channels so I got a new one if your interested pm me Ill make you deal.

[Bozo]

Originally posted by Surgeon General
Hey Baps, Merry Christmas. As I read your thread I started to smile, The way it reads you are talking to your self on the net :)
Anyway, did you get it all sorted out? You can just disable the onboard sound. If you can't disable the device in the manager just remove the drivers.
Not sure if you already went out and got the card bt i was thinking, will not one of the little "Y" adapters work? I think I have even seen them in 3 config (would that then make it a "w"):D Not sure, but I have seen them at radio shack.
Happy holidays man, se you in some cs :D

Seemed a shame to interupt him:D :D

[LaughingClam]

Front. Rear and Center/Woofer? or in other words, a 4.1 setup or a 5.1 setup?
4.1 have the 4 speakers and a woofer.
5.1 have 4 speakers, a 5th for ontop of monitor (common placement for it) and woofer.

[Baptizer]

Thanks for the info everyone! I am afraid that if i use a Y or W connector, the signal will be so degraded it might lose a bit of quality(music quality).
Does anyone have a good soundcard recommendation that would fit my needs? Do you think i should go for the Soundblaster 5.1 OEM?

[blitz]

Every single person I ask in #athlon channels, etc. says to get the Turtle Beech Santa Cruz... I'm getting it for my next comp.. it's $65 at newegg.com

[Baptizer]

Thanks for info blitz! I read some reviews for it at their site, and it definitely does sound like a winner!

[Bindibadgi]

int the santa cruiz the aureal board? Which u cant use after 9x/Me? Cause if it is - its the same as the sonic vortex 2 which was really good in 98se but has no drivers for XP so the XP "compatible" ones are really naff. So ive got it FS and have upgraded to an audigy player :)

[Baptizer]

I picked up the soundblaster 5.1 OEM from www.newegg.com. It was very cheap, 30 bucks, so you cant beat that. I am going to install it on my mother's computer this weekend, so i will let you all know of the quality and performance.....

[Berkswolf]

Hmmm missed this thread over Xmas.


BindiBadgi, the Santa Cruz is sold in this country as the Videologic Sonic Fury, not the Aureal card you refer too. A damn fine card it is too. I got one after getting fed up waiting for Creative to suupply working drivers for XP for my two differant creative cards. Suffice to say I hope I never have to go back to Creative cards again. They make some fine kit, but their support is the pits.

[Bindibadgi]

ahh its the fury :)

well i had a vortex 2 and they stopped doing drivers for it ages ago so ive gone back to creative (audigy ownz :D) works fine in XP!?